Tyrann Mathieu says marijuana use cost him 'millions'

Feb. 24, 2013
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Former Louisiana State cornerback Tyrann Mathieu watches courtside during a game between the New Orleans Hornets and the Golden State Warriors at the New Orleans Arena on Jan. 19, 2013. / Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports

by Robert Klemko, USA TODAY Sports

by Robert Klemko, USA TODAY Sports

But the former Louisiana State defensive back wants a chance to prove himself, and he's getting it at the scouting combine -- he says he's already interviewed with several teams.

Mathieu, formerly the "Honey Badger," hopes to drop his old nickname and forge a new reputation after earning consensus All-American honors as a sophomore in 2011 before being dismissed from LSU's football program for multiple failed drug tests due to marijuana use. He joined a drug rehab program last summer, but he and three other former LSU players were arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession on Oct. 25. Mathieu says he hasn't used marijuana since that ordeal.

"I've been to rehab. I've been to counseling. I have a sponsor," he said Sunday. "I'm surrounding myself with people who want to do what I want to do, which is be a football player. To go back down that road? Not a chance in this world. Not a chance in this lifetime. I've got to be the best person that Tyrann can be."

Mathieu, wearing his signature bleached blonde mohawk and combine-issued sweats, described being awakened at 4 a.m. ET Sunday to take a drug test and later interviewing with NFL teams who already knew his back story.

He said teams mainly wanted to know if he still has it, on the field.

"Not too much about off the field. But its more about on the field, do I still have it," he said. "They know everything. My best friend right now is honesty. I'm trying to be as open as possible because I want to rebuild that trust."

Asked what he has lost in the past year, Mathieu said "millions," but emphasized he'll be happy to play football for a few hundred thousand dollars after playing the game his whole life for free. Why should an NFL team believe Mathieu is capable of staying clean once he's got an NFL salary at his disposal?

"A lot of the things that I put before football, was really not fun anymore without football," he said. "So once I get football back in my life, I want to approach things a little bit different and hopefully have a better outcome."

Mathieu has sought the tutelage of NFL defensive backs Patrick Peterson, Darrelle Revis, Morris Claiborne and Corey Webster, and says he's in contact with each on a daily basis. A potential first-round pick after his first two seasons in college football, Mathieu projects as a third-day selection in April. He measured just under 5-9 at the combine, and though he compares his game to Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed, he's more likely to play nickel corner as a pro.